Sat Aug 31, 2013, 12:22 AM

RainDog (28,784 posts)

Police Groups Furiously Protest Eric Holder's Marijuana Policy Announcement

Source: Huffington Post

A broad coalition of law enforcement officers who have spent the past three decades waging an increasingly militarized drug war that has failed to reduce drug use doesn't want to give up the fight.

Organizations that include sheriffs, narcotics officers and big-city police chiefs slammed Attorney General Eric Holder in a joint letter Friday, expressing "extreme disappointment" at his announcement that the Department of Justice would allow Colorado and Washington to implement state laws that legalized recreational marijuana for adults.

If there had been doubt about how meaningful Holder's move was, the fury reflected in the police response eliminates it. The role of law enforcement is traditionally understood to be limited to enforcing laws, but police organizations have become increasingly powerful political actors, and lashed out at Holder for not consulting sufficiently before adopting the new policy.

"It is unacceptable that the Department of Justice did not consult our organizations -- whose members will be directly impacted -- for meaningful input ahead of this important decision," the letter reads. "Our organizations were given notice just thirty minutes before the official announcement was made public and were not given the adequate forum ahead of time to express our concerns with the Department’s conclusion on this matter. Simply 'checking the box' by alerting law enforcement officials right before a decision is announced is not enough and certainly does not show an understanding of the value the Federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partnerships bring to the Department of Justice and the public safety discussion."

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/30/police-eric-holder-marijuana-_n_3846518.html?utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false#sb=807241b=facebook

I'm sure the reality that the war on marijuana funds so many state law enforcement agencies has nothing to do with this. Next thing you know, Holder will go after asset seizure laws, that other pork, like, you know, the constitution mattered or something.

82 replies, 12894 views

Thread info Bookmark this thread Trash this thread

Reply to this thread

Always highlight: 10 newest replies | Replies posted after I mark a forum

Replies to this discussion thread

82 replies	Author	Time	Post
Police Groups Furiously Protest Eric Holder's Marijuana Policy Announcement (Original post)	RainDog	Aug 2013	OP
As concerned citizens	defacto7	Aug 2013	#1
They are only concerned about their job security..	olddad56	Aug 2013	#4
That's how I see things as well. Also, the dirty cops	TheDebbieDee	Aug 2013	#12
not dirty, cuz they always have the best stuff.	ChairmanAgnostic	Sep 2013	#77
If they're concerned about job security, they should stop voting Republican.	SunSeeker	Aug 2013	#20
Exactly. It's a huge jobs scam that's filled our prisons with people who simply don't belong there.	WestSeattle2	Aug 2013	#51
yup fucking asshole pigs	gopiscrap	Aug 2013	#53
Those that rely on bogus crimes are corrupt and we don't need them in law enforcement.	LiberalFighter	Aug 2013	#59
The federal law has not changed. It is selective enforcement now.	indie9197	Aug 2013	#22
I think we're watching a process unfold	RainDog	Aug 2013	#25
I swear, if they had their way, we'd live in a police state. n/t	bobGandolf	Aug 2013	#63
Awesomer ..	Lenomsky	Aug 2013	#2
new policiy cuts into the LEO welfare pork scam. now they may have to find real criminals nt	msongs	Aug 2013	#3
I'll BET they don't want to give up the fight. How you gonna justify the APC's now?	Poll_Blind	Aug 2013	#5
Indeed when ..	Lenomsky	Aug 2013	#6
Well said.	truebluegreen	Aug 2013	#33
just think no more kicking down the wrong door	littlewolf	Aug 2013	#36
How many in law enforcement are able to do that.	LiberalFighter	Aug 2013	#60
yep - piece of cake	Locrian	Sep 2013	#75
Coulda been from 'The Onion'	alittlelark	Aug 2013	#7
Tough, cops. Deal with it.	Comrade Grumpy	Aug 2013	#8
Holder just made their jobs a hell of a lot more dangerous	jmowreader	Aug 2013	#9
I was just thinking maybe they would have the time and resources to go after meth	AllyCat	Aug 2013	#23
Resources, I think, are the biggest one	jmowreader	Aug 2013	#28
Used to live in Idaho. I feel for ya.	truebluegreen	Aug 2013	#34
yep, priorities	Supersedeas	Sep 2013	#73
I am SHOCKED SHOCKED to find that gambling is going on here.	iandhr	Aug 2013	#10
Notice was given by the voters. It's been time enough for law enforcement to prepare.	delrem	Aug 2013	#11
Time to shrink the government a bit... :)	daschess1987	Aug 2013	#13
To quote NWA...	awoke_in_2003	Aug 2013	#14
They want their WOD booty	Taverner	Aug 2013	#15
The gravy train of busting stoners for big bucks is OVER.	Spitfire of ATJ	Aug 2013	#16
Big bucks at low risk!	AllyCat	Aug 2013	#24
fuck tha police	frylock	Aug 2013	#17
Citizens 1, Cops 0	nolabels	Sep 2013	#67
Are they worried their childrern won't have life-long jobs w/pensions for persecuting hippies?	Coyotl	Aug 2013	#18
Of course.	avaistheone1	Aug 2013	#29
Cops worried about their promotions...priceless	SHRED	Aug 2013	#19
What sort of society do we want?	RainDog	Aug 2013	#21
Nice.	WCLinolVir	Sep 2013	#79
swords into ploughshares n/t	RainDog	Sep 2013	#81
Why protest Holder? He's not in charge of their jurisdictions, as State, County, and local officers	Dragonfli	Aug 2013	#26
Because only the Feds have the power to keep forcing prohibition on us, that's why.	bemildred	Aug 2013	#38
Bravo Mr. Holder :)	Tx4obama	Aug 2013	#27
"If there had been doubt about how meaningful Holder's move was ... " <-- I like this part. eom	99th_Monkey	Aug 2013	#30
I don't think there has been a article in recent months	Oldenuff	Aug 2013	#31
Why would the police be so dead-set against this?	tofuandbeer	Aug 2013	#32
I've seen these guys in action.	Lasher	Aug 2013	#35
For the man in the paddock, whose duty it is to sweep up manure, the supreme terror	bemildred	Aug 2013	#37
Didn't Gore say "It is difficult to get a man to understand something whose paycheck	AllyCat	Aug 2013	#43
Same deal, yeah, but Miller was a better writer.	bemildred	Aug 2013	#44
Upton Sinclair, not Gore, was the origin of that quote	RainDog	Aug 2013	#49
Yeah, I think you're right, but these things take on a life of their own.	bemildred	Aug 2013	#50
Oh. I'd never heard it attributed to Gore before	RainDog	Aug 2013	#52
No, not that one, I've never seen that one anywhere else.	bemildred	Aug 2013	#55
This is really funny...I meant ALBERT Gore, the VP.	AllyCat	Sep 2013	#68
Well, much as I like Al, I don't think he reads a lot of obscure Hugo in translation.	bemildred	Sep 2013	#70
Of course they do...less cool breaking down door equipment with fashion accessories.	Safetykitten	Aug 2013	#39
it`s all about the money....	madrchsod	Aug 2013	#40
Fuck those roided up parasites! Bring on the pipers.	Tom Ripley	Aug 2013	#41
We ought to Thank them	fredamae	Aug 2013	#42
Who the fuck do they think they are? No one needs to notify them of shit!	L0oniX	Aug 2013	#45
"doesn't want to give up the fight."... Ha! What bullshit...	Ohio Joe	Aug 2013	#46
Fuck off and sit down, pig.	DisgustipatedinCA	Aug 2013	#47
Sounds just like a scene from the Wizard of Oz...	Shampoobra	Aug 2013	#48
Without hassling smokers, all there is to do is catch criminals .	orpupilofnature57	Aug 2013	#54
Sounds like some LEOs are worried about losing their jobs	notadmblnd	Aug 2013	#56
FINALLY! Something liberals and conservatives can agree on - no prohibition	RainDog	Aug 2013	#57
Of course...90% of their damn job is busting harmless pot smokers	workinclasszero	Aug 2013	#58
Sorry boys.. It's not your job to write or make enforcement decisions about the laws..	annabanana	Aug 2013	#61
The asset-seizure laws, as currently enforced, are criminally unconstitutional imo	indepat	Aug 2013	#62
it's robbery	RainDog	Aug 2013	#64
Modern-day highwaymen, but with the seal of governmental approval. Unconstitutional	indepat	Aug 2013	#65
Harry J. Anslinger	rickyhall	Sep 2013	#66
We need to DISMANTLE this police state......	DeSwiss	Sep 2013	#69
things are waaaay out of balance	RainDog	Sep 2013	#72
Tradition, where did it go?	burnsei sensei	Sep 2013	#71
they doth protest too much --- are they on the take? That's what happened in Prohibition	wordpix	Sep 2013	#74
There is a far broader coalition of law enforcement officers	randr	Sep 2013	#76
who doesnt like	d_r	Sep 2013	#78
The trough is running dry, or they THINK it will	DiverDave	Sep 2013	#80
One of Kevin Smith's lines fits quite well in this matter...	adirondacker	Sep 2013	#82

Response to RainDog (Original post)

Sat Aug 31, 2013, 12:40 AM

defacto7 (13,485 posts)

1. As concerned citizens

they can say what they wish.

As Police chiefs, Sheriffs, and narc officers.. they have no say in law making. They are employees or elected officials of the city, state and local governments and subject to the laws the US government as well. Their's is the job of enforcement of those laws and enforcement only. I am getting tired of the enforcers of the law trying to be the law makers and judges as well. There is a reason, a huge reason for that separation. It's the difference between a democracy and a police state.

Police Groups Furiously Protest Eric Holder's Marijuana Policy Announcement

1. As concerned citizens

4. They are only concerned about their job security..

12. That's how I see things as well. Also, the dirty cops

77. not dirty, cuz they always have the best stuff.

20. If they're concerned about job security, they should stop voting Republican.

51. Exactly. It's a huge jobs scam that's filled our prisons with people who simply don't belong there.

53. yup fucking asshole pigs

59. Those that rely on bogus crimes are corrupt and we don't need them in law enforcement.

22. The federal law has not changed. It is selective enforcement now.

25. I think we're watching a process unfold

63. I swear, if they had their way, we'd live in a police state. n/t

2. Awesomer ..

3. new policiy cuts into the LEO welfare pork scam. now they may have to find real criminals nt

5. I'll BET they don't want to give up the fight. How you gonna justify the APC's now?

6. Indeed when ..

33. Well said.

36. just think no more kicking down the wrong door

60. How many in law enforcement are able to do that.

75. yep - piece of cake

7. Coulda been from 'The Onion'

8. Tough, cops. Deal with it.

9. Holder just made their jobs a hell of a lot more dangerous

23. I was just thinking maybe they would have the time and resources to go after meth

28. Resources, I think, are the biggest one

34. Used to live in Idaho. I feel for ya.

73. yep, priorities

10. I am SHOCKED SHOCKED to find that gambling is going on here.

11. Notice was given by the voters. It's been time enough for law enforcement to prepare.

13. Time to shrink the government a bit... :)

14. To quote NWA...

15. They want their WOD booty

16. The gravy train of busting stoners for big bucks is OVER.

24. Big bucks at low risk!

17. fuck tha police

67. Citizens 1, Cops 0

18. Are they worried their childrern won't have life-long jobs w/pensions for persecuting hippies?

29. Of course.

19. Cops worried about their promotions...priceless

21. What sort of society do we want?

79. Nice.

81. swords into ploughshares n/t

26. Why protest Holder? He's not in charge of their jurisdictions, as State, County, and local officers

38. Because only the Feds have the power to keep forcing prohibition on us, that's why.

27. Bravo Mr. Holder :)

30. "If there had been doubt about how meaningful Holder's move was ... " <-- I like this part. eom

31. I don't think there has been a article in recent months

32. Why would the police be so dead-set against this?

35. I've seen these guys in action.

37. For the man in the paddock, whose duty it is to sweep up manure, the supreme terror

43. Didn't Gore say "It is difficult to get a man to understand something whose paycheck

44. Same deal, yeah, but Miller was a better writer.

49. Upton Sinclair, not Gore, was the origin of that quote

50. Yeah, I think you're right, but these things take on a life of their own.

52. Oh. I'd never heard it attributed to Gore before

55. No, not that one, I've never seen that one anywhere else.

68. This is really funny...I meant ALBERT Gore, the VP.

70. Well, much as I like Al, I don't think he reads a lot of obscure Hugo in translation.

39. Of course they do...less cool breaking down door equipment with fashion accessories.

40. it`s all about the money....

41. Fuck those roided up parasites! Bring on the pipers.

42. We ought to Thank them

45. Who the fuck do they think they are? No one needs to notify them of shit!

46. "doesn't want to give up the fight."... Ha! What bullshit...

47. Fuck off and sit down, pig.

48. Sounds just like a scene from the Wizard of Oz...

54. Without hassling smokers, all there is to do is catch criminals .

56. Sounds like some LEOs are worried about losing their jobs

57. FINALLY! Something liberals and conservatives can agree on - no prohibition

58. Of course...90% of their damn job is busting harmless pot smokers

61. Sorry boys.. It's not your job to write or make enforcement decisions about the laws..

62. The asset-seizure laws, as currently enforced, are criminally unconstitutional imo

64. it's robbery

65. Modern-day highwaymen, but with the seal of governmental approval. Unconstitutional

66. Harry J. Anslinger

69. We need to DISMANTLE this police state......

72. things are waaaay out of balance

71. Tradition, where did it go?

74. they doth protest too much --- are they on the take? That's what happened in Prohibition

76. There is a far broader coalition of law enforcement officers